Starting Strength Gyms - Franchisor Site

Starting Strength Gym Ownership
INQUIRE ABOUT GYM OWNERSHIP
Starting Strength Gyms: The Concept
The importance of strength to health and fitness is now a mainstream topic. Doctors, the CDC, and popular culture have caught up to the idea that being physically capable, resistant to injury, and harder to kill, means being strong.

The problem? None of these authorities know how to get strong and neither do any of the "trainers" at your local fitness studio. Actual strength training is largely inaccessible to the general public.

Starting Strength Gyms is changing that. When your aunt is advised by her GP that she needs to get stronger, there is now a place for her to accomplish that goal. When your brother decides that it's time to get back in shape, that "shape" doesn't have to be thin and lean, instead it can be big and strong - which will do more to improve his life than just making him look better.

The gyms accomplish this by providing every member with coaching from an experienced, educated, intelligent coach that's a subject matter expert on the topic of applying the Starting Strength model to anyone. Every member of the gym gets guidance on how to perform the exercises, which exercises to perform, when, with what weight, how many reps, and how many sets - all specific to the individual trainee's current level of training advancement. The result? Every member that shows up for training gets measurably stronger. There is no other fitness franchise in the United States that can say the same.
Starting Strength is the Most Effective Method of Strength Training
Starting Strength began as a training program, and later a book, that became popular due to the drastic results it produced. A cult following emerged online as the book rose to the #1 position in the weight training category on Amazon.com. Word began to spread and millions of people now visit startingstrength.com each year to learn more about the process of getting strong.

As demand for the program grew, so did the demand for coaching. The best way to do Starting Strength is with a coach, in person, three days per week. At Starting Strength Gyms, this is now a possible in major cities throughout the country, for less than $30 per training session.

6.1 MILLION
Number of web sessions in 2018 on startingstrength.com
2.8 MILLION
People on the website in 2018
70 CITIES
With 10,000 or more hits to the website annually
750 THOUSAND
Strength training books sold
Current and Planned Gym Locations
Starting Strength Austin
Opened April 15, 2019
Gym owner: Joyce Luke, Starting Strength Coach and ex professional athlete
Number of gyms: 1
Pre-sale revenue: $18,870
Membership price: $315/month
Starting Strength Dallas
Opened July 1, 2019
Gym owner: Brent Carter, SSC and Andrew Mueller, a surgeon and an investor
Number of gyms: 3
Pre-sale revenue, gym 1: $16,790
Membership price: $365/month
Starting Strength Houston
Opened August 19, 2019
Gym owner: JD Shipley, ex oil and gas project manager
Number of gyms: 2
Pre-sale revenue, gym 1: $22,300
Membership price: $365/month
Starting Strength Denver
Opening Second Half 2019
Gym owner: Jay Livsey, real estate investor and ex-professional golfer
Number of gyms: 2
Starting Strength Boston
Opening First Quarter 2020
Gym owner: Arthur Frontczak, ex IT project manager
Number of gyms: 1
Target Cities for Expansion
Each Area Listed Has Over 20k Annual Visits to StartingStrength.com
Arizona
Phoenix
California
Los Angeles
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
San Diego
Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto
Connecticut
Hartford-New Haven
Florida
Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne
Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota)
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
Georgia
Atlanta
Illinois*
Chicago
Indiana*
Indianapolis
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Detroit
Minnesota*
Minneapolis-St. Paul MN
Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nebraska
Omaha
New York
New York
North Carolina
Charlotte
Raleigh-Durham (Fayetteville)
Ohio
Columbus
Cleveland-Akron (Canton)
Cincinnati

Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Tennessee
Nashville
Texas
San Antonio
Utah
Salt Lake City
Virginia*
Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News
Washington
Seattle-Tacoma
Washington D.C.
Washington DC
*We are not currently registered and are not offering franchises in these States, but we expect to do so starting in 2020
What it Takes to Be a Franchise Owner
We are looking for Starting Strength diehards - franchise owners that have done the program and have experienced how much better life is when you're strong. Starting Strength Gym ownership is not like buying other fitness franchises because we are not looking for investors, we are looking for passionate owner/operators that want to make strength training more accessible to the general public to help improve people's lives.
How Much it Costs to Open a Gym
4-6 Platform Gym: $100,487 - $252,337
7-10 Platform Gym: $147,837 - $323,657

Price ranges include the franchise fee, pre-opening expenditures, and three months of additional funds
Support and Resources for Franchise Owners

Real Estate Selection
We combine web traffic data from startingstrength.com with local market data mapped to our target demographic to create search areas in each market. The goal is to place gyms in cities with tens of thousands of Starting Strength fans and in areas of the city where people can afford a $300+/month gym membership.
Financing Options
We have partners for equipment lending (not personally collateralized), personal lending, and SBA Express loans.
Build-out Guide
Our build-out guide is maniacally detailed to ensure that every gym adheres to strict standards of performance, quality, and aesthetics. Our build-out team will guide you, or your project manager, through the process.
Custom Equipment and Furniture
The barbells, power racks, platforms, plate trees, deadlift jacks, flat benches, barbell holders, and weightlifting belts were all designed by the creator of Starting Strength, Mark Rippetoe. Our gym furniture was custom designed for the gyms to match the wood and steel equipment.
Hiring and Developing Coaches
Coaching jobs are posted on startingstrength.com and are rapidly filled. There is a backlog of coaches that want to coach at Starting Strength Gyms, including those that are willing to relocate.

Starting Strength offers coach development camps, weekend seminars, and an online coach prep course to help supplement your staff's education.
Pre-Sale and Grand Opening
Geo-targeted ads are setup at startingstrength.com and on the Starting Strength forums to inform local Starting Strength fans that a gym is opening in their area. Prospective members see the ad, go to the website, and sign up with our custom pre-sale software.
Custom Software
Each trainee gets access to our digital logbook app that is custom designed for Starting Strength Gyms. The 65" flat screens in the gym's lobby display logbook data for each trainee in the current and upcoming group training session. The TVs also display gym-wide and franchise-wide PRs.
Gym Operations
Our 100+ page gym operations manual, gymOS, is an extremely detailed guide to help franchise owners ensure that they are running every aspect of their business as effectively as possible, with the best software tools available for small business management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a Starting Strength Coach to own a Starting Strength Gym?
No, but each Starting Strength Gym must employ at least one SSC.

Can I open in a Starting Strength Gym in non-US market?
No, for the foreseeable future we will be focusing on US expansion.

Do I need to have experience in the gym business to open a gym?
No, but you must be experienced in business operations of some kind.

How much is the franchise fee and the royalty?
The franchise fee is $39,950. The royalty is 8% of your gross revenue in addition to a 2% national ad fee that we use to promote the Starting Strength brand nationally.

Can I purchase a city or a region to develop?
Yes, we have Area Developer Agreements that offer protected territories and discounted franchise fees.

How long does it take to open a gym?
The time from Franchise Agreement execution to gym opening typically takes between six and nine months.

How do I inquire about opening a gym or purchasing a region?
Scroll to the bottom of the page and submit your information. If you're in one of our target areas, or are confident that a gym will work in your area, we'll be in touch to setup a phone meeting.
The Process of Becoming a Franchise Owner

1
REQUEST INFORMATION
Submit your information in the form below to schedule an introductory call
2
SELECT A CITY
We are currently interested in major metropolitan areas in the US
3
REVIEW OUR FDD
Read our Franchise Disclosure Document to fully understand the business
4
APPLY TO BECOME A GYM OWNER
Request a Confidential Franchise Application
5
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
Sign on, start your Real Estate search, and apply for financing
Inquire About Franchise Ownership

Contact

info @ startingstrengthgyms.com

949-525-9191

*STARTING STRENGTH GYM FRANCHISES ARE AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED PROSPECTIVE FRANCHISEES ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES. STARTING STRENGTH GYMS WILL NOT OFFER OR SELL A FRANCHISE UNLESS REGISTERED (OR EXEMPT) IN THE STATE WHERE THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER RESIDES OR WHERE THE FRANCHISE WILL BE LOCATED. THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING DIRECTED TO ANY RESIDENT OF THE FOLLOWING STATES, OR ANY STATE, PROVINCE, COUNTRY OR JURISDICTION WHERE STARTING STRENGTH GYMS IS NOT CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO OFFER OR SELL, UNLESS OTHERWISE QUALIFIED OR EXEMPT: I. Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin; II. Connecticut, Kentucky, Nebraska, Utah.

THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEB SITE IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY A STARTING STRENGTH GYM FRANCHISE. AN OFFER TO BUY A STARTING STRENGTH GYM FRANCHISE IS MADE BY FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT ONLY.

Starting Strength Gym Ownership

Starting Strength Gyms: The Concept

Starting Strength is the Most Effective Method of Strength Training

6.1 MILLION

2.8 MILLION

70 CITIES

750 THOUSAND

Current and Planned Gym Locations

Starting Strength Austin

Opened April 15, 2019

Starting Strength Dallas

Opened July 1, 2019

Starting Strength Houston

Opened August 19, 2019

Starting Strength Denver

Opening Second Half 2019

Starting Strength Boston

Opening First Quarter 2020

Target Cities for Expansion

Each Area Listed Has Over 20k Annual Visits to StartingStrength.com

Indiana*Indianapolis MichiganAnn ArborDetroitMinnesota*Minneapolis-St. Paul MNMissouriKansas CitySt. LouisNebraskaOmahaNew YorkNew YorkNorth CarolinaCharlotteRaleigh-Durham (Fayetteville)OhioColumbusCleveland-Akron (Canton)Cincinnati

What it Takes to Be a Franchise Owner

How Much it Costs to Open a Gym

4-6 Platform Gym: $100,487 - $252,3377-10 Platform Gym: $147,837 - $323,657 Price ranges include the franchise fee, pre-opening expenditures, and three months of additional funds

Support and Resources for Franchise Owners

Real Estate Selection

Financing Options

Build-out Guide

Custom Equipment and Furniture

Hiring and Developing Coaches

Pre-Sale and Grand Opening

Custom Software

Gym Operations

Frequently Asked Questions

The Process of Becoming a Franchise Owner

REQUEST INFORMATION

SELECT A CITY

REVIEW OUR FDD

APPLY TO BECOME A GYM OWNER

FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

Inquire About Franchise Ownership

Indiana*
Indianapolis
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Detroit
Minnesota*
Minneapolis-St. Paul MN
Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nebraska
Omaha
New York
New York
North Carolina
Charlotte
Raleigh-Durham (Fayetteville)
Ohio
Columbus
Cleveland-Akron (Canton)
Cincinnati

4-6 Platform Gym: $100,487 - $252,337
7-10 Platform Gym: $147,837 - $323,657

Price ranges include the franchise fee, pre-opening expenditures, and three months of additional funds